Row driver configuration

ABSTRACT

An electronic display includes an active area including multiple pixels. The electronic display also includes a first row driver set including a first column of row drivers and a second column of row drivers. A first active row driver in the first column of row drivers drives a first portion of the multiple pixels, and a first spare row driver in the second column of row drivers is in an inactive state. The electronic display also includes a second row driver set including a third column of row drivers and a fourth column of row drivers. A third active row driver in the third column of row drivers drives a second portion of the multiple pixels, and a second spare row driver in the fourth column of row drivers is inactive.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to techniques for driving adisplay and, more particularly, to techniques for driving the displayusing row drivers.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects ofart that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure,which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed tobe helpful in providing the reader with background information tofacilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statementsare to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Electronic displays may include row drivers and column drivers.Generally, either the row driver or the column drivers send data topixels of the display, and the other driver (column or row) controlswhich pixel in the row or column actually latches and displays the data.Thus, pixels may be programmed at an intersection that is connected to aspecific row driver out of multiple row drivers and a specific columndriver out of multiple column drivers. However, when a row driver fails,the pixels in the row controlled by the row driver may not be accessedusing the row driver, and the display may need to be disposed of orrepaired.

SUMMARY

A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. Itshould be understood that these aspects are presented merely to providethe reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and thatthese aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may notbe set forth below.

Row drivers and column drivers may be used to distribute clock and/oremission controls and image data for an electronic display. Inparticular, the row and column drivers, in combination, enable thedisplay to accurately pinpoint intersections where pixels may beprogrammed. For example, a micro-driver may be located at a row andcolumn intersection accessible to the row and column drivers. Eachmicro-driver may drive multiple pixels, each of which may includeseveral subpixels (e.g., red, green, and blue subpixels). The subpixelsmay be self-emissive organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) ormicro-light-emitting-diodes (μ-LEDs).

To reduce the likelihood of display failure, the row drivers may haveredundant counterparts that increase possible complications/spacing inlocating components within a display. To alleviate some complexity oftrace and/or spacing, row driver sets (a primary and slave row driver)may be located at opposing ends of an active area of the display. Thetask allocations between the sets may include dividing the roles of eachrow driver by subpixel color. For example, a first row driver set maydrive red sub-pixels while a second row driver set drives blue and/orgreen sub-pixels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon readingthe following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of components of an electronic device that mayinclude a micro-light-emitting-diode (μ-LED) display, in accordance withan embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic device in the form of afitness band, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the electronic device in the form of a slate,in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electronic device in the form of anotebook computer, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a μ-LED display that employs micro-drivers(μDs) to drive μ-LED subpixels with controls signals from row drivers(RDs) and data signals from column drivers (CDs), in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an operation of oneof the micro-drivers (μDs), in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a timing diagram illustrating an example operation of themicro-driver (μD) of FIG. 6 , in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart diagram for operating a display using row drivers,in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a display having an active area and two ormore row driver sets, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the row driver sets and active area ofFIG. 9 , in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the row driver set of FIG. 10 usinghard-wired identifiers for the row drivers, in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart diagram for a process for configuring row driversin a first column of the row driver set of FIG. 10 using hard-wiredidentifiers, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart diagram for a process for configuring row driversin a second column of the row driver set of FIG. 10 using hard-wiredidentifiers, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of the row driver set of FIG. 10 usinglaser cutting disconnects to configure the row drivers, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart diagram of a process for configuring therow drivers of FIG. 14 using laser cutting, in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 16 illustrates a schematic view of the row driver set of FIG. 10using smart row drivers that intercommunicate configuration statuses, inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart diagram of a process for configuring therow drivers of FIG. 16 , in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 18 illustrates a schematic view of the row driver set of FIG. 10using token passing, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 19 illustrates a schematic view of a token combination circuit ofthe row driver set of FIG. 18 , in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 20 illustrates a token buffer system of the row driver set of FIG.18 , in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 21 illustrates a flowchart diagram for configuring the smart rowdrivers of FIG. 18 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effortto provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all featuresof an actual implementation are described in the specification. Itshould be appreciated that in the development of any such actualimplementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerousimplementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve thedevelopers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation toanother. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a developmenteffort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be aroutine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those ofordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

As discussed above, additional row driver sets and/or spare row driverin each row driver set used to drive a display may result in increasedlife and/or lower rejection rates of displays during manufacturing ortesting without decreasing the appearance of the display. The tasks forthe row drivers may be divided by pixel type (e.g., sub-pixel color)and/or locations. The row driver sets may be positionally separated. Forexample, the row driver sets may be disposed at opposite ends of anactive area of a display. The redundant row drivers may enable betterdisplay manufacturing and/or longevity results.

The additional row drivers are to be configured to ensure that the rowdrivers are properly defined to be the main row driver or the spare rowdriver. Thus, the row drivers may be directly accessible to enable eachrow driver to be properly configured to the active state as the main rowdriver or an inactive state as the spare row driver. The row drivers maybe directly accessible using hard-wired identifiers that uniquelyidentify each row driver. Additionally or alternatively, the row driversmay be accessible using laser cuts to change states of the row drivers.In a further embodiment, each row driver may be a “smart” row driverthat communicates with row drivers upstream and downstream of itself.Such a “smart” row driver may send a main status message to a downstreamrow driver, waiting for a response from the downstream driver. If noconfirmation is received, the row driver sends the main status messageto a cross-column row driver. Additionally or alternatively, a token maybe used as a rolling identifier that is passed from row driver to rowdriver downstream letting the row driver know that any configurationdata transmitted over the configuration data line is intended for therow driver. If the row driver does not have a token, the row driverignores data on the configuration data line.

Suitable electronic devices that may include a micro-LED (μ-LED oru-LED) display are discussed below with reference to FIGS. 1-4 . Oneexample of a suitable electronic device 10 may include, among otherthings, processor(s) such as a central processing unit (CPU) and/orgraphics processing unit (GPU) 12, storage device(s) 14, communicationinterface(s) 16, a μ-LED display 18, input structures 20, and an energysupply 22. The blocks shown in FIG. 1 may each represent hardware,software, or a combination of both hardware and software. The electronicdevice 10 may include more or fewer components. It should be appreciatedthat FIG. 1 merely provides one example of a particular implementationof the electronic device 10.

The CPU/GPU 12 of the electronic device 10 may perform various dataprocessing operations, including generating and/or processing image datafor display on the display 18, in combination with the storage device(s)14. For example, instructions that can be executed by the CPU/GPU 12 maybe stored on the storage device(s) 14. The storage device(s) 14 thus mayrepresent any suitable tangible, computer-readable media. The storagedevice(s) 14 may be volatile and/or non-volatile. By way of example, thestorage device(s) 14 may include random-access memory, read-only memory,flash memory, a hard drive, and so forth.

The electronic device 10 may use the communication interface(s) 16 tocommunicate with various other electronic devices or components. Thecommunication interface(s) 16 may include input/output (I/O) interfacesand/or network interfaces. Such network interfaces may include those fora personal area network (PAN) such as Bluetooth, a local area network(LAN) or wireless local area network (WLAN) such as Wi-Fi, and/or for awide area network (WAN) such as a long-term evolution (LTE) cellularnetwork.

Using pixels containing an arrangement of pixels made up of μ-LEDs, thedisplay 18 may display images generated by the CPU/GPU 12. The display18 may include touchscreen functionality to allow users to interact witha user interface appearing on the display 18. Input structures 20 mayalso allow a user to interact with the electronic device 10. Forinstance, the input structures 20 may represent hardware buttons. Theenergy supply 22 may include any suitable source of energy for theelectronic device. This may include a battery within the electronicdevice 10 and/or a power conversion device to accept alternating current(AC) power from a power outlet.

As may be appreciated, the electronic device 10 may take a number ofdifferent forms. As shown in FIG. 2 , the electronic device 10 may takethe form of a fitness band 30. The fitness band 30 may include anenclosure 32 that houses the electronic device 10 components of thefitness band 30. A strap 30 may allow the fitness band 30 to be worn onthe arm or wrist. The display 18 may display information related to theoperation of the fitness band 30. Additionally or alternatively, thefitness band 30 may operate as a watch, in which case the display 18 maydisplay the time. Input structures 20 may allow a person wearing thefitness band 30 navigate a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display18.

The electronic device 10 may also take the form of a slate 40. Dependingon the size of the slate 40, the slate 40 may serve as a handhelddevice, such as a mobile phone, or a tablet-sized device. The slate 40includes an enclosure 42 through which several input structures 20 mayprotrude. The enclosure 42 also holds the display 18. The inputstructures 20 may allow a user to interact with a GUI of the slate 40.For example, the input structures 20 may enable a user to make atelephone call. A speaker 44 may output a received audio signal and amicrophone 46 may capture the voice of the user. The slate 40 may alsoinclude a communication interface 16 to allow the slate 40 to connectvia a wired connection to another electronic device.

A notebook computer 50 represents another form that the electronicdevice 10 may take. It should be appreciated that the electronic device10 may also take the form of any other computer, including a desktopcomputer. The notebook computer 50 shown in FIG. 4 includes the display18 and input structures 20 that include a keyboard and a track pad.Communication interfaces 16 of the notebook computer 50 may include, forexample, a universal service bus (USB) connection.

A block diagram of the architecture of the μ-LED display 18 appears inFIG. 5 . In the example of FIG. 5 , the display 18 uses an RGB displaypanel 60 with pixels that include red, green, and blue μ-LEDs assubpixels. Support circuitry 62 thus may receive RGB-format video imagedata 64. It should be appreciated, however, that the display 18 mayalternatively display other formats of image data, in which case thesupport circuitry 62 may receive image data of such different imageformat. In the support circuitry 62, a video timing controller (TCON) 66may receive and use the image data 64 in a serial signal to determine adata clock signal (DATA_CLK) to control the provision of the image data64 in the display 18. The video TCON 66 also passes the image data 64 toserial-to-parallel circuitry 68 that may deserialize the image data 64signal into several parallel image data signals 70. That is, theserial-to-parallel circuitry 68 may collect the image data 64 into theparticular data signals 70 that are passed on to specific columns amonga total of M respective columns in the display panel 60. As such, thedata 70 is labeled DATA[0], DATA[1], DATA[2], DATA[3] . . . DATA[M−3],DATA[M−2], DATA[M−1], and DATA[M]. The data 70 respectively containimage data corresponding to pixels in the first column, second column,third column, fourth column . . . fourth-to-last column, third-to-lastcolumn, second-to-last column, and last column, respectively. The data70 may be collected into more or fewer columns depending on the numberof columns that make up the display panel 60.

As noted above, the video TCON 66 may generate the data clock signal(DATA_CLK). An emission timing controller (TCON) 72 may generate anemission clock signal (EM_CLK). Collectively, these may be referred toas Row Scan Control signals, as illustrated in FIG. 5 . These Row ScanControl signals may be used by circuitry on the display panel 60 todisplay the image data 70.

In particular, the display panel 60 shown in FIG. 5 includes columndrivers (CDs) 74, row drivers (RDs) 76, and micro-drivers (μDs or uDs)78. Each uD 78 drives a number of pixels 80 having μ-LEDs as subpixels82. Each pixel 80 includes at least one red μ-LED, at least one greenμ-LED, and at least one blue μ-LED to represent the image data 64 in RGBformat. Although the μDs 78 of FIG. 5 is shown to drive six pixels 80having three subpixels 82 each, each μD 78 may drive more or fewerpixels 80. For example, each μD 78 may respectively drive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or more pixels 80.

A power supply 84 may provide a reference voltage (VREF) 86 to drive theμ-LEDs, a digital power signal 88, and an analog power signal 90. Insome cases, the power supply 84 may provide more than one referencevoltage (VREF) 86 signal. Namely, subpixels 82 of different colors maybe driven using different reference voltages. As such, the power supply84 may provide more than one reference voltage (VREF) 86. Additionallyor alternatively, other circuitry on the display panel 60 may step thereference voltage (VREF) 86 up or down to obtain different referencevoltages to drive different colors of μ-LED.

To allow the μDs 78 to drive the μ-LED subpixels 82 of the pixels 80,the column drivers (CDs) 74 and the row drivers (RDs) 76 may operate inconcert. Each column driver (CD) 74 may drive the respective image data70 signal for that column in a digital form. Meanwhile, each RD 76 mayprovide the data clock signal (DATA_CLK) and the emission clock signal(EM_CLK) at an appropriate to activate the row of μDs 78 driven by theRD 76. A row of μDs 78 may be activated when the RD 76 that controlsthat row sends the data clock signal (DATA_CLK). This may cause thenow-activated μDs 78 of that row to receive and store the digital imagedata 70 signal that is driven by the column drivers (CDs) 74. The μDs 78of that row then may drive the pixels 80 based on the stored digitalimage data 70 signal based on the emission clock signal (EM_CLK).

A block diagram shown in FIG. 6 illustrates some of the components ofone of the μDs 78. The μD 78 shown in FIG. 6 includes pixel databuffer(s) 100 and a digital counter 102. The pixel data buffer(s) 100may include sufficient storage to hold the image data 70 that isprovided. For instance, the μD 78 may include enough pixel databuffer(s) 100 to store image data 70 for three subpixels 82 at any onetime (e.g., for 8-bit image data 70, this may be 24 bits of storage). Itshould be appreciated, however, that the pixel data buffer(s) 100 mayinclude more or fewer buffers, depending on the data rate of the imagedata 70 and the number of subpixels 82 included in the image data 70.Thus, in some embodiments, the pixel data buffer(s) 100 may include asfew buffers as to hold image data for one subpixel 82 or as many assuitable (e.g., 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and so forth). The pixeldata buffer(s) 100 may take any suitable logical structure based on theorder that the column driver (CD) 74 provides the image data 70. Forexample, the pixel data buffer(s) 100 may include a first-in-first-out(FIFO) logical structure or a last-in-first-out (LIFO) structure.

When the pixel data buffer(s) 100 has received and stored the image data70, the RD 76 may provide the emission clock signal (EM_CLK). A counter102 may receive the emission clock signal (EM_CLK) as an input. Thepixel data buffer(s) 100 may output enough of the stored image data 70to output a digital data signal 104 represent a desired gray level for aparticular subpixel 82 that is to be driven by the μD 78. The counter102 may also output a digital counter signal 106 indicative of thenumber of edges (only rising, only falling, or both rising and fallingedges) of the emission clock signal (EM_CLK) 98. The signals 104 and 106may enter a comparator 108 that outputs an emission control signal 110in an “on” state when the signal 106 does not exceed the signal 104, andan “off” state otherwise. The emission control signal 110 may be routedto driving circuitry (not shown) for the subpixel 82 being driven, whichmay cause light emission 112 from the selected subpixel 82 to be on oroff. The longer the selected subpixel 82 is driven “on” by the emissioncontrol signal 110, the greater the amount of light that will beperceived by the human eye as originating from the subpixel 82.

A timing diagram 120, shown in FIG. 7 , provides one brief example ofthe operation of the μD 78. The timing diagram 120 shows the digitaldata signal 104, the digital counter signal 106, the emission controlsignal 110, and the emission clock signal (EM_CLK) represented bynumeral 122. In the example of FIG. 7 , the gray level for driving theselected subpixel 82 is gray level 4, and this is reflected in thedigital data signal 104. The emission control signal 110 drives thesubpixel 82 “on” for a period of time defined as gray level 4 based onthe emission clock signal (EM_CLK). Namely, as the emission clock signal(EM_CLK) rises and falls, the digital counter signal 106 graduallyincreases. The comparator 108 outputs the emission control signal 110 toan “on” state as long as the digital counter signal 106 remains lessthan the data signal 104. When the digital counter signal 106 reachesthe data signal 104, the comparator 108 outputs the emission controlsignal 110 to an “off” state, thereby causing the selected subpixel 82no longer to emit light.

It should be noted that the steps between gray levels are reflected bythe timing between emission clock signal (EM_CLK) edges. That is, basedon the way humans perceive light, to notice the difference between lowergray levels, the difference between the amount of light emitted betweentwo lower gray levels may be relatively small. To notice the differencebetween higher gray levels, however, the difference between the amountof light emitted between two higher gray levels may be comparativelymuch greater. The emission clock signal (EM_CLK) therefore may userelatively short time intervals between clock edges at first. To accountfor the increase in the difference between light emitted as gray levelsincrease, the differences between edges (e.g., periods) of the emissionclock signal (EM_CLK) may gradually lengthen. The particular pattern ofthe emission clock signal (EM_CLK), as generated by the emission TCON72, may have increasingly longer differences between edges (e.g.,periods) so as to provide a gamma encoding of the gray level of thesubpixel 82 being driven.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process for operating a display with a microdriver.The microdriver may be coupled to two or more row drivers. These rowdrivers drive each display line (via the microdriver) and distributeclock and control signals across the panel while maintaining arelatively high signal integrity. Within each set of row drivers, adriving row driver drives the row, while a backup row driver is placedin a non-driving state (block 1000). For example, the non-driving orinactive state may be a high-impedance state. This backup row driver isprovided as redundancy to ensure performance so that a healthy drivermay be used if the other driver becomes faulty or unhealthy. Sometimeduring operation of the display or during configuration of the display,the row drivers are set to active or inactive states.

The display may also have different regions and/or types to be driven bydifferent row driver sets (e.g., driving row driver and backup rowdriver) (block 1002). For example, a first row driver set may drive afirst color (e.g., red), a second row driver set may drive remainingcolors (e.g., blue, green, or white). Alternatively, a row driver setmay be used for each color. Additionally or alternatively, regions ofdisplays may be allocated different row drivers. For example, left-mostpixels in a row may be driven using a first row driver set, butright-most pixels in the row may be driven using a second row driverset.

When a second driver set is used, the driver sets may be disposed atopposite ends of an active area (block 1004). For example, FIG. 9illustrates a display 1006 that includes a first row driver set 1008 anda second row driver set 1010 that are disposed at opposite ends of anactive area 1012 of the display 1006. In embodiments of the display 1006having more than two row driver sets, a third row driver set 1014 isincluded. For example, the first row driver set 1008 may be used for redsub-pixels, the second row driver set 1010 may be used for greensub-pixels, and the third row driver 1014 may be used for bluesub-pixels. Each of the first, second, and third row set drivers 1008,1010, and 1012 includes a driving row driver and a backup driver.

FIG. 10 illustrates a display 1020 with row drivers. The display 1020includes microdrivers 1024, 1026, 1028, 1030, 1032, 1034, 1036, and1038, collectively referred to as microdrivers 1024-1038. Although onlythe microdrivers 1024-1038 are illustrated, additional microdrivers areincluded in the display 1020 but omitted from illustration forconciseness. The microdrivers 1024-1038 are driven by row driver sets1040 and 1042. For example, red sub-pixels corresponding to each of themicrodrivers 1024-1038 may be driven using the row driver set 1040 whileblue/green/white sub-pixels may be driven using the row driver set 1042.

The row driver set 1040 includes master row drivers 1044, 1046, and 1048and spare drivers 1050, 1052, and 1054. It should be appreciated thatthe row driver set 1040 also includes additional master and sparedrivers that have been omitted for conciseness. The row driver set 1042includes master row drivers 1056, 1058, and 1060 and spare drivers 1062,1064, and 1066. It should be appreciated that the row driver set 1042also includes additional master and spare drivers that have been omittedfor conciseness. As can be appreciated, the driving row drivers andredundant counterparts use configurations and/or driving resolutions toproperly transfer signals. However, having access to each row driver maybe challenging, especially with the redundant drivers present in eachset.

Hard-Wired Identifiers

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a row driver set 1070 of that useshard-wired identifiers to identify each row driver with a unique addressto enable communication with individual row drivers. The row driver set1070 includes a master row driver column 1072 and a spare row drivercolumn 1074. The master row driver column 1072 includes row drivers1076, 1078, 1080, and 1082. Additional, master row drivers have beenomitted for conciseness, but the master row driver column 1072 includesenough row drivers to drive all of the pixels of the display. The masterrow drivers are primarily used to drive the microdrivers. The spare rowdriver column 1074 includes row drivers 1084, 1086, 1088, and 1090.Additional, master row drivers have been omitted for conciseness, butthe master row driver column 1072 includes enough row drivers to driveall of the pixels of the display. The spare (redundant) row drivers areused to drive microdrivers when a respective master row driver hasfailed, is failing, is unhealthy, or any other suitable reason forswitching from the master row driver to a corresponding spare rowdriver.

Each master row driver may receive a clock signal 1092 that informs therow driver to perform certain actions, such as latching received data toa corresponding microdriver. Each master row driver may receive datafrom a data line 1094. The received data is data that is to betransmitted to a microdriver in the row. Similarly, each spare rowdriver may receive a clock signal 1096 that informs the row driver toperform certain actions, such as transmitting received data to acorresponding microdriver. Each master row driver may receive data froma data line 1098. The received data is data that is to be transmitted toa microdriver in the row when the spare row driver is active.

Each row driver (master and spare) have identifier (ID) pins 1100 thatuniquely identify the row driver within a column, such as the master rowdriver column 1072 or the spare row driver column 1074. The ID pins 1100may be hardwired at a backplane for the display. The number of ID pins1100 for each row driver is related to a number of rows in the display.For example, in the illustrated row driver set, each row driver has 9 IDpins 1100, because the number of row drivers in a column is less than orequal to 512. If more row drivers are to be included in a column, eachrow driver may have more ID pins 1100. For example, for 512-1024 pins,each row driver may have 10 pins. Thus, each driver may be uniquelyaccessed within its column to program the row driver at any time.

Alternatively, the number of pins may be reduced by segmentation witheach segment have an individual clock. For example, 9 ID pins 1100 witha single clock may be replaced with 7 ID pins with four clocks. Thus,such segmentations approaches reduce pin allocations at the expense ofadditional clock and additional backplane routing. For example, thelength of backplane routing may be proportional to the number of clocks.Thus, an embodiment having four clocks may have four times as muchbackplane routing as an embodiment having a single clock.

FIG. 12 illustrates a process 1110 for configuring the row drivers usinghard-wired identifiers. The process 1110 includes setting the rowdrivers to active/main/master role or an inactive/spare/redundant rolein the first column 1072. A specific row driver (e.g., row driver 1076)is accessed using the hard wired address (block 1112). Since the firstcolumn 1072 of row drivers is to default to the active/main/master role,the row driver is set to the main or active state (block 1114). Duringoperation and/or during a calibration or configuration state, conditionsof the active row drivers are tested. If a failure or unhealthy state isdetected in a row driver (block 1116), the row driver is accessed usingthe hard-wired identifier (block 1118). Using the hard-wired identifier,the row driver is set to the spare or inactive state (block 1120).

FIG. 13 illustrates a process 1150 for configuring the row drivers usinghard-wired identifiers. The process 1110 includes setting the rowdrivers to active/main/master role or an inactive/spare/redundant rolein the second column 1074. A specific row driver (e.g., row driver 1084)that corresponds to row driver in the first column 1072 is accessedusing the hard wired address (block 1152). Since the second column 1074of row drivers is to defaulted to the inactive/spare role, the rowdriver is set to the inactive state (block 1154). During operationand/or during a calibration or configuration state, conditions of theactive row drivers are tested. If a failure or unhealthy state isdetected in the row driver of the first column 1072 corresponding to therow driver of the second column 1074 (block 1156), the row driver of thesecond column is accessed using the hard-wired identifier (block 1158).Using the hard-wired identifier, the row driver of the second column1074 is set to the main or active state (block 1160).

Hard-Wired Configuration Using Laser Cutting

FIG. 14 illustrates a hard-wires configuration scheme for row drivers ina row driver set 1200. This may be a one time programmable scheme whererow drivers are configured by laser cuts based on the outcome offunctional testing. This approach may employ a lasting program of rowdrivers that are not re-programmed at display startup, at possibleelectrical glitches, or electrostatic discharge events.

As discussed below, each row driver has 3 dedicated configuration pins(P1, P2, and P3). P1 and P2, in combination, indicate whether a rowdriver in a certain row should have the control over the line or shouldbe inactive with output pins in high impedance mode. P2 of the primaryrow drivers is hard wired to GND whereas P2 of the redundant row driveris connected to VDD. In some embodiments, P1 of both primary andredundant row drivers are connected to each other, and this common lineis connected to VDD. Based on the functional test results, if a primaryrow driver is working properly, no action is needed. However, if theprimary row driver is not working, the common connection to VDD is cutby the laser cutting process. The P2 and P3 input pin are down weaklyinside the row driver to ground the pins if the common connection is cutfrom VDD. Based on the state of P1 and P2, a simple internal logic(e.g., xor gate) inside the row driver creates the active versusinactive row driver signal. If P1 is 1, and P2 is 0, the row driver isactive and takes control of the row. Likewise, if P1 is 0, and P2 is 1,the row driver is active and takes control of the row. If the P1 and P2are both 0 or both 1, the row driver is to be inactive, and the outputof this driver is to be put in high impedance mode. P3 of the row drivercontrols the input signal path to the row drivers from the prior row.This pin controls a 2×1 MUX inside the row driver ensuring that theinput signal to the row driver is coming from a functioning row driverin the previous row. If P3 is high (VDD), the row driver picks thesignals of the primary row driver in the previous row. If P3 is low(GND), the signals of the redundant row driver in the previous row.

Initially, each of the row drivers 1202, 1204, 1206, 1208, 1210, 1212,1214, 1216, 1218, and 1220, collectively referred to as the row drivers1202-1220. Again, it should be noted that the row drivers 1202-1220 mayonly account for a portion of the number of row drivers in the display,and the display may include any suitable number of row drivers. The rowdrivers are initially connected via hardwire connections. Each of therow drivers 1202-1220 is initially connected to respective VDD 1222,1224, 1226, 1228, 1230, 1232, 1234, and 1236. The VDDs may all beconnected to a common return and/or to a common voltage. Alternatively,the VDDs may be different supply voltages at different voltage levels.Each VDD is coupled to respective first pin for each row driver. Forexample, for row driver 1202, VDD 1222 is connected to pin 1238.Similarly, VDDs 1224, 1226, 1228, 1230, 1232, 1234, and 1236 areconnected to pins 1240, 1242, 1244, 1246, 1248, 1250, and 1252,respectively. The potential master row drivers have a second pin 1254that is coupled to ground. The potential spare row drivers have a secondpin 1256 that is coupled to VDD.

During a testing/configuration mode, the operation of the row driversmay be tested using test circuitry, LED(s), and camera(s) to ensure thatpotential master row drivers are functioning properly. If a driver isnot functioning properly, a laser cut 1258 is made to disconnect a pinof the row driver from VDD. The first pin (VDD pin) of each row driveris compared to the second pin of the row driver. If the pins have thesame logic, the driver is a spare row driver. If the pins have differentlogic, the driver is a master row driver. Thus, if the row driver 1202failed during a test, a laser cut 1258 would be made to disconnect thefirst pin 1238 of the row driver 1202 from VDD 1222. The first pin ofeach row driver is internally pulled to ground weakly, such that whenthe laser cut is made, the first pin is pulled down to ground. Thus,after the laser cut 1258 disconnects the first pin 1238 of the rowdriver 1202 from VDD 1222, the first pin 1238 is pulled to ground. Afterthe first pin 1238 is pulled down, the logic of the first pin 1238 andthe second pin of the row driver 1202 have the same logic (e.g.,ground). Therefore, the row logic 1202 is configured as a spare rowdriver. At the same time that the laser cut is made to disconnect thefirst pin 1238 of the row driver 1202 from VDD 1222, another laser cutis made to disconnect the first pin 1240 of the row driver 1204 from theVDD 1224. Thus, the first pin 1240 is pulled to ground. Since the secondpin 1256 is VDD, when the first pin 1240 is pulled down, the pins havedifferent logic. Therefore, the row driver 1204 is configured as amaster row driver while the row driver 1202 is configured as the spare.

FIG. 15 illustrates a process 1260 for configuring row drivers in therow driver set 1200. Row drivers in a first column are hardwired to anactive state (block 1262). For example, the row drivers in the firstcolumn may include row drivers 1202, 1206, 1210, 1214, and 1218. Rowdrivers in a second column are hardwired to an inactive state (block1264). For example, the row drivers in the second column may include rowdrivers 1204, 1208, 1212, 1216, and 1220. During operation orconfiguration, the display monitors operation of the row driver (block1266). For example, during operation, a camera may be used to capturebrightness from the display indicating whether a specific row driver isworking properly. For instance, if the row driver is not working at anintended level the brightness of a region or of a pixel may be below theproper level. If a failing (or failed) row driver has been detected(block 1268), a laser cut is made to place the row driver in an inactivestate (block 1270). For example, the laser cut 1258 may disconnect a pinof the row driver from VDD. In some embodiments, the laser cut mayresult in a permanent disconnect. In addition to laser cutting thefailing row driver, a laser cut is made to a corresponding row driver inanother column to place the corresponding row driver into an activestate. In some embodiments, a single common connection is used toconnect the first pin of primary and corresponding spare row drivers. Asingle cut to this common connection, disconnects both row driverscausing the row drivers to switch roles with each other. If anotherfailing row driver has been detected (block 1274), those failing rowdrivers are also placed in an inactive state while the corresponding rowdrivers in the second column are placed in an active state. Once allfailing drivers are switched to inactive states, the display is drivenusing the row drivers in the active state (block 1276).

Smart Row Drivers

FIG. 16 illustrates a smart row driver set 1300 that includes smart rowdrivers that are able to communicate with each other to enableconfiguration of the row drivers in the smart row set 1300. The smartrow set 1300 includes a first column 1302 of drivers and a second column1304 of drivers. Row drivers 1306, 1308, 1310, 1312, 1314, 1316, 1318,1320, 1322, 1324, 1326, 1328, 1330, 1332, and 1334 may be used, when inan active state, to control access to microdrivers and their relatedpixels. In other words, the row driver ensures that data from the columndrivers is stored and used for the proper pixels. Initially, all of therow drivers are configured as spare via a pull down within each rowdriver. During a configuration/calibration mode, a row driver in thefirst column 1302 or the second column 1304 is selected for each row ofmicro-drivers (μDs) 78 and/or pixels 80 in the display. To facilitateconfiguration, each row driver includes an up-column confirmationtransmission line 1332, a down-column transmission line 1334, across-column transmission line 1336 or 1338.

FIG. 17 illustrates a smart row driver configuration process 1340.During the row driver configuration process, a row driver attempts toassign master row driver status to a down-column row driver in the samecolumn by sending a master row driver status message to the down-columnrow driver via the down-column transmission line 1334 (block 1342). Therow driver waits to receive a confirmation from the down-column rowdriver via the up-column transmission line 1332. The row driverdetermines whether the confirmation has been received (block 1344). Ifthe confirmation is received, actions within the configuration mode forthis row driver has ended and the next row driver sends a message (block1346). If no confirmation is received, the row driver only waits apre-determined period of time for the confirmation to be received fromthe down-column row driver. Thus, the row driver determines whether thispre-determined duration has elapsed since the status message has beentransmitted down-column (block 1348). If the pre-determined period hasnot elapsed, the row driver continues to wait. However, if thepre-determined period has elapsed without receiving the confirmation,the row driver sends a status message cross column using thecross-column transmission line 1336 or 1338 (block 1350).

Once the confirmation has been received or the pre-determined timeperiod has elapsed without the confirmation, the process shifts to thenext row driver designated a master row driver. For example, the rowdriver 1306 passes master status to the row driver 1310 via thedown-column transmission line 1334, and the row driver 1310 confirmsreceipt to the row driver 1306 via the up-column transmission line 1332.At this point, the row driver 1306 is done configuring row drivers, andthe row driver 1310 picks up the process by sending a status message tothe row driver 1312 via the down-column transmission line 1334. Once thelast row driver has been configured, the configuration results may belatched within each row driver.

Token Passing

FIG. 18 illustrates a row driver set 1400 that includes row drivers thatpass a token to identify the row driver to be configured. The row driverset 1400 includes a first column 1402 and a second column 1404. Each rowdriver 1406 receives configuration data. Row drivers 1406 in the firstcolumn 1402 receive configuration data via data line 1408, and rowdrivers 1406 in the second column 1404 receive configuration data viadata line 1410. The row drivers 1406 also receive configuration clocksignals via clock signal lines 1412 and 1414. Each row driver 1406receives a token from main and spare row drivers up-stream from the rowdriver 1406. For example, if the row drivers are being configured in atop-down manner, the row driver receives the token from the row driversabove, but if the row drivers are being configured in a bottom-upmanner, the row driver receives the token from the row drivers below.

The row drivers pass a token to all drivers in the row driver set 1400to configure each driver by sending the proper clock and data. The tokenwill be rotated between all the lines one by one by a series of shiftregisters. Each driver passes the token to the next one(s) after it isconfigured. FIG. 19 illustrates an OR gate 1420. As discussed above, therow driver 1406 may receive token information from either the main orspare row driver from an up-stream row driver. An input from anup-stream spare row driver 1422 is combined with an input from anup-stream main row driver 1424 using the OR gate 1420. The resultantvalue is a token input 1426 used to control whether the configurationdata can configure the row driver 1406.

FIG. 20 illustrates a shift register system 1440 used to shift and usethe token input 1426. The shift register system 1440 includes receivinga token clock signal 1442 used to organize token activities. The tokenclock signal 1442 is used control when shift registers 1444, 1446, 1447,and 1448 latch and/or pass latched values. When the token clock signal1442 is logic high, the shift registers 1444, 1446, 1447, and 1448 passtheir latched token input 1426 values to the next shift register and anAND gate 1450, 1452, 1454, or 1456. The AND gates ensure that the tokenand the configuration clock 1414 are set before shift registers 1458,1460, 1462, or 1464 are set. Once the shift register 1458, 1460, 1462,or 1464 is set, the configuration data 1410 may be latched and or passedto row driver internal configuration circuitry (e.g., set the row driveras a main row driver from the inactive/spare state).

FIG. 21 illustrates a flow chart for a process 1500 for configuring therow drivers 1406 using token passing. A row driver 1406 begins in adefault state (block 1502). For example, the row driver may initiate inan inactive/spare state or a main/active state. Additionally oralternatively, the row driver's initial state may vary based on whichcolumn (first column 1402 or second column 1404) in which the row driveris located. The row driver receives configuration data (block 1504). Therow driver determines whether a token has been received (block 1506).For example, the row driver uses and AND gate to control latching of theconfiguration data based on receipt of the token and a configurationclock. If the token has not been received, the row driver continues towait for the token taking no action on the received configuration data.In other words, the token is a rolling identifier that lets the rowdrivers know whether the currently received configuration data isintended for that row driver or for another row driver. If the token hasbeen received, the configuration data is latched and/or passed toconfiguration logic that sets the state of the row driver (block 1508).For example, if the row driver is default inactive, the configurationmay switch the row driver to an active/main state. If additional rowdrivers exist (block 1510), the row driver passes the token to the nextrow drivers in the row driver set 1440 to continue the process (block1512), and the process 1514 begins again at the new row driver. If noadditional row drivers exist, the configuration process ends for thiscycle (block 1514). The configuration process may begin again, butnonetheless, a cycle or iteration of configuration has been completed.

The specific embodiments described above have been shown by way ofexample, and it should be understood that these embodiments may besusceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. It should befurther understood that the claims are not intended to be limited to theparticular forms disclosed, but rather to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope ofthis disclosure. Moreover, although the foregoing discusses row driversthat send data to microdrivers and column drivers that control whichmicrodriver in a row receives the data, it should be appreciated thatthe foregoing discussion about row drivers may be applied to columndrivers and vice versa merely by rotating orientation of the display.Thus, recitations of the term “column” and “row” may refer to thereverse in some embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic display comprising: an active areacomprising a plurality of pixels; a first row driver set comprising: afirst column of row drivers comprising a first active row driver coupledto a first portion of the plurality of pixels, wherein the first activerow driver is configured to drive the first portion of the plurality ofpixels; and a second column of row drivers comprising a first spare rowdriver coupled to the first portion of the plurality of pixels, whereinthe first spare row driver is initially in an inactive state andcomprises: a first pin connected to a voltage source; and a second pinconnected to the voltage source, wherein a first conductive routing iselectrically coupled between the first active row driver and the firstportion of the plurality of pixels, and a second conductive routing iselectrically coupled between the first spare row driver and the firstportion of the plurality of pixels, and wherein a laser cut disconnectsthe second pin of the first spare row driver from the voltage source toactivate the first spare row driver; and a second row driver setcomprising: a third column of row drivers comprising a second active rowdriver coupled to a second portion of the plurality of pixels, whereinthe second active row driver is configured to drive the second portionof the plurality of pixels; and a fourth column of row driverscomprising a second spare row driver coupled to the second portion ofthe plurality of pixels, wherein the second spare row driver is in theinactive state.
 2. The electronic display of claim 1, further comprisinga plurality of microdrivers configured to receive at least one signalfrom the first active row driver and to drive at least some of theplurality of pixels.
 3. The electronic display of claim 2, wherein eachmicrodriver is configured to drive at least two lines of pixels.
 4. Theelectronic display of claim 3, wherein each microdriver is configured todrive 8 pixels with 4 in a first line and 4 in a second line.
 5. Theelectronic display of claim 1, wherein the row drivers in the first rowdriver set are configured to drive a first color of subpixels, and therow drivers in the second row driver are configured to drive a secondcolor of subpixels.
 6. The electronic display of claim 5, wherein thefirst color comprises red and the second color comprises green or blue.7. The electronic display of claim 1, wherein the first row driver setand the second row driver set are disposed at opposite ends of theactive area.
 8. An electronic display comprising: an active areacomprising a plurality of pixels; a plurality of row drivers, whereineach row driver comprises a hard-wired identifier that uniquelyidentifies each row driver within the plurality of row drivers using anassociated address corresponding to a plurality of identification pinshardwired at a backplane for the electronic display to facilitateconfiguring each row driver of the plurality of row drivers as active orinactive, the plurality of row drivers comprising: a first row driverset comprising: a first column of row drivers, wherein a first activerow driver in the first column of row drivers supplies a control signalto a first portion of the plurality of pixels; and a second column ofrow drivers, wherein a first spare row driver in the second column ofrow drivers is in an inactive state and coupled to the first portion ofthe plurality of pixels; and a second row driver set comprising: a thirdcolumn of row drivers, wherein a second active row driver in the thirdcolumn of row drivers supplies a control signal to a second portion ofthe plurality of pixels; and a fourth column of row drivers, wherein asecond spare row driver in the fourth column of row drivers is inactiveand coupled to the second portion of the plurality of pixels.
 9. Theelectronic display of claim 8 comprising: a microdriver receiving thecontrol signal from the first active row driver, wherein the microdriverdrives the first portion of the plurality of pixels based on the controlsignal; and a column driver, wherein the column driver provides data tothe microdriver.
 10. The electronic display of claim 8, wherein thefirst portion of the plurality of pixels comprises at least 2 pixelsdriven by one microdriver.
 11. The electronic display of claim 8,wherein the hard-wired identifier comprises the plurality ofidentification pins that are segmented using one or more clocks.
 12. Theelectronic display of claim 8, wherein the hard-wired identifier isconfigured to enable the row driver to determine whether configurationdata is intended for the row driver.
 13. The electronic display of claim12, wherein the configuration data comprises an indication directing therow driver to be in an active state or an inactive state.
 14. A displaycomprising, an active area comprising a plurality of pixels; and a firstrow driver set comprising a first column of row drivers including anactive row driver, wherein the active row driver comprises: a first pinconnected to a voltage; and a second pin connected to ground; and asecond column of row drivers including an inactive row driver, whereinthe inactive row driver comprises: a third pin connected to the voltage;and a fourth pin connected to the voltage, wherein a first conductiverouting is electrically coupled between the active row driver and aportion of the plurality of pixels and a second conductive routingbetween the inactive row driver and the portion of the plurality ofpixels, and wherein the first pin is disconnected by a laser cut todeactivate the active row driver, and wherein the third pin isdisconnected by the laser cut to activate the inactive row driver. 15.The display of claim 14, wherein the second conductive routing isdisconnected by coupling the third pin of the inactive row driver fromthe voltage to ground.
 16. A method for setting a master row drivercomprising: (a) sending a master row driver status message downstreamfrom a first row driver to a second row driver in a first column of rowdrivers of a display to configure the second row driver, wherein themaster row driver status message is a message that is passed between rowdrivers of columns of row drivers to activate a row driver; (b)determining whether a confirmation has been received at the first rowdriver from the second row driver within a duration, wherein theconfirmation within the duration indicates configuration completion ofthe second row driver; and (c) if the confirmation has not been receivedat the first row driver within the duration, sending the master rowdriver status message in a cross over from the first row driver to athird row driver in a second column of row drivers, and wherein rowdrivers of the display are configured using the master row driver statusmessage prior to driving pixels of the display.
 17. The method of claim16 comprising: if confirmation has been received within the duration,shifting a master row driver configuration designation downstream to thesecond row driver; if the confirmation has not been received at thefirst row driver within the duration, shifting a master row driverconfiguration designation downstream to the third row driver; andreiteratively performing acts (a)-(c) for a currently designated masterrow driver designated using the master row driver configurationdesignation until no downstream row drivers remain for the currentlydesignated master row driver.